Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has doubled down on his happiness that his side will be playing Real Madrid rather than Manchester City in this season’s Champions League final.
Karim Benzema's extra-time penalty sealed Los Blancos' progression into the final of the competition, securing a 3-1 victory on the night and a 6-5 success on aggregate.
Riyad Mahrez had given City the lead, before Rodrygo's last-gasp brace turned the game on its head. Ahead of that tie being decided, Salah insisted he would much rather prefer to play Carlo Ancelotti’s side rather than Manchester City.
After it was confirmed Real would be Liverpool's opponents, the Egyptian international tweeted "we have a score to settle". The Reds played Los Blancos in the 2018 Champions League final and it was a game which generated some controversy controversy. The in-form Salah was taken off midway through the first-half with a shoulder issue after colliding with Sergio Ramos. It was an injury which affected the Reds, and they were unable to provide as bigger threat in attack – with the Spanish giants running out 3-1 victors.
Salah was told by former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann to “keep quiet” ahead of the game, with the former midfielder explaining that there was nothing to be gained from these comments and Salah being so public with his pleasure at Madrid’s progress through to the final.
However, speaking to Sky Sports on Thursday, Salah doubled down on his comments: "If you ask everybody [at Liverpool ], everyone wanted that game. I don't know why we're not allowed to talk about it but I'm ok to talk about it - I wanted that game! I wanted to play Real Madrid before that game [against Manchester City].
"Of course, I'm not giving too much credit to them. They're an unbelievable team with a great coach, great players. When they asked me who I wanted, I said Madrid. It's an easy answer."
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While Liverpool are set to enter this season’s showpiece event in Paris as favourites, there surely can be no side who wishes to face Real Madrid. Not only have they already secured their 35th La Liga title with a rampant league success with four rounds of matches remaining – ensuring they can focus exclusively on the final – but their European exploits this campaign are ominous.
Having eliminated Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City – all in spectacular fashion with remarkable comebacks in each showing their huge reserves of self-belief and defiance – there can be no arguments that they have not reached this final the hard way. No side is so remarkably self-assured of their own ability as Real Madrid – to the point where their comebacks and ultimate success becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
This is a much stronger Los Blancos than the version who beat Liverpool in the 2018 final – that side had limped to a third-placed finish in La Liga and was showing signs of regression from the seasons that preceded it. Yet with emerging talents such as Eduardo Camavinga, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes now all playing key roles, there is a different mood and atmosphere around the club.
Until Liverpool’s name has been etched into the trophy and Jordan Henderson lifts it above his head, you can never, ever discount Real Madrid in this competition. No more warnings are required.
